Anne from Smitten Kitten here I do social media and manage the current mutual aid hub. I am currently working in partnership with Dali, a social worker from Brooklyn Center. We met a few days ago, and ever since, we have been raising thousands of dollars and distributing hundreds of local community donations of food and household supplies for local families affected by the increased ICE presence in the Twin Cities.

As the situation unfolds, the urgent needs of families all over the Twin Cities have become dire. In this case, to the point of Dali’s family taking in a brother and sister whose parents were stopped and detained on their way to the grocery store by ICE today.

Dali had to pull these babies from class today (1/13/26) and break the news to them.

At first, the family thought it would be better to have them all at the ICE detention facility together. After learning that they would be separated, The family changed their mind and called Dali's mother, who had signed papers transferring parental authority until the family is able to reunite again. This now means that Dali’s family has grown by two people in less than 24 hours!

There are now hundreds of families in similar situations due to the current occupation of ICE. Today we need to support and care for this family's 11-year-old daughter and their 6-year-old son. They need clothes, extra food, transportation, toys, toiletries and lawyers to keep them comfortable and fight for the family to be able to stay together in the United States or to sustain themselves in Ecuador.

Our goal also includes fundraising for these children’s extended family who may be able to help care for them in the future.